Practicing Without A License

For some occupations it's necessary for people to first obtain licensure before they can engage in the practice of that profession. Licenses are required for a wide range of jobs, including physicians, attorneys, nurses, pharmacists, engineers, veterinarians, social workers, real estate agents, accountants, and others.

Along with doctors, attorneys, dentists, veterinarians, and other professionals, all states require anyone wishing to be a nurse to first obtain a state license. If you engage in nursing without that license, you commit the crime of practicing nursing without a license.

The practice of medicine is a tightly regulated profession because it involves such a high risk of potential harm to the public. All states require that anyone wishing to practice medicine as a physician must first obtain a state license to do so. Without such a license, anyone practicing medicine in the state commits a crime.

As with other professions that impact the health and well-being of others, the dental profession is tightly regulated by each state. Anyone who wishes to work as a dentist in any state must first receive the legal authority to do so by acquiring a state dental license. State license requirements differ slightly, but all states make it a crime to practice dentistry without having a license.

Like many other professionals, attorneys must have a license before they can practice law in any state. While license requirements differ slightly from state to state, all states make it illegal to engage in the practice of law without first obtaining a license. Anyone engaged in the practice of law without a license commits a criminal act.

The practice of tattooing has become quite popular in recent decades. States have adopted a range of laws governing this profession because of the inherent risks to personal and public health involved. While not all states require someone giving a tattoo to have a license, most of them have license requirements of some kind.

Question: I was hurt after I went to a "healer" who made my condition worse. I think he was masquerading as a doctor. Will that fact alone entitle me to some money damages? Answer: Only licensed doctors may provide medical services; "healers" are not licensed.

In order to practice as a dentist in any state, you must first obtain a license from appropriate state governing agency. Each state has its own dentistry license requirements that applicants must meet before they can become properly licensed.